Memorial Day ceremonies will honor fallen military heroes

A contingent of Boy Scouts selected from troops throughout the city will place flags Saturday morning on the graves of veterans at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, 950 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westwood.

This ceremony is a traditional part of holiday activities occurring around the Southland to pay tribute to fallen military personnel. On Monday, Veteran's Administration and military personnel past and present will host in Westwood and at Riverside National Cemetery the traditional memorial service honoring fallen veterans with a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.

The holiday weekend will kick off locally May 25 at Grand Park downtown at 1 p.m. when Angel City Brewery will host a barbecue. The "monthly food truck roundup" will feature rolling diners such as Steel City Sandwich and the Surfer Taco. On Monday the brewery will host "grills, games and beer," beginning at 1 p.m. with free sliders and mini hotdogs, then tacos later that day and culminating with competition in some of America's favorite board games.

Canoga Park will host a Memorial Day parade beginning at 11 a.m. The parade, "Saluting the Price of Freedom," will travel from the corner of Sherman Way and Owensmouth Boulevard, and proceed east to Mason Avenue and Sherman Way.

The Topanga Days Country Fair will host a Memorial Day parade, while the Valley Greek Festival will feature three days of Greek melodies, dancing and food.

In the South Bay, the Hermosa Beach will present a three-day "Fiesta Hermosa" music festival and street fair.

Businessman and philanthropist Rick Caruso is sponsoring a number of Los Angeles Police Department officers to travel to Boston to participate in the "Run to Remember," commemorating fallen police officers. The event this year will take on extra significance as the officers will carry along letters of condolence and also financial contributions raised by students in Operation Progress in memory of 8-year-old Martin Richard who was killed in the terrorist attack during the Boston Marathon. (See Operation Progress photo on Page 10.)

The number of Southern Californians expected to travel at least 50 or more miles this weekend will drop about 2.1 percent, according to the annual forecast by the Auto Club of Southern California. About 60,000 fewer residents will drive the highways between tomorrow morning and Sunday evening. The lack of local holiday traffic may be the result of gasoline prices having jumped 13 cents from one month ago.

For Southern California travelers, the Auto Club said the top Memorial Day vacation destinations will be San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco, the Central Coast and the Grand Canyon.